Does connecting flights have to wait for you? (2024)

FAQs

Does connecting flights have to wait for you? ›

Do connecting flights wait for delayed passengers? Most airlines will try to accommodate passengers from a delayed inbound flight, but it's not guaranteed. Flight attendants might notify the ground crew of connecting passengers, but airlines typically won't delay a departure for a small group.

In most cases, US airlines will put you on the next available flight for free. (Even some ultra-low-cost carriers, like Spirit and Allegiant, will rebook you on the next flight for free if the missed connection is due to a flight delay.)

What is a good connection time? Travel advisers say there's a lot to take into account when booking connecting flights, but a general rule of thumb is 60-90 minutes between domestic flights and at least two to three hours for international itineraries.

If you don't manage to reach your gate on time, you will be labeled a no show and the flight will leave without you. In these cases, you will have to book your own replacement flight and will not be eligible for compensation.

For connecting domestic flights, you almost never have to exit and reenter security, though there are some exceptions at airports where the terminals aren't all connected. For domestic-to-international connection, it's still pretty rare that you have to exit and reenter security, even if you're changing terminals.

Besides this, when you purchase a connecting flight ticket with your preferred airlines, then in such conditions, a general thumb rule says that; for domestic flights, the time is around 60-90 minutes, and suppose you have an international connecting flight ticket, then it will take approximately 2-3 hours, and it ...

All of the major U.S. airlines have policies prohibiting the practice of skiplagging—or what they refer to as hidden city ticketing—written into their contract of carriage statements.

The recommended layover time for international flights is generally longer, as you will have to go through customs and immigration before boarding your next flight. In most cases, a 30-minute layover for domestic flights and an hour for international flights is considered a minimum, or short, layover.

Layovers of just 30 minutes can be feasible for domestic flights, especially at small airports where the next flight might be just one gate over. But international layovers are typically far more complicated, and even two hours can be insufficient.

Minimum connect time (MCT) is defined as the shortest time interval required to transfer a passenger and their luggage from one flight to a connecting flight.

Does anything happen if you don't show up for a flight? ›

If you do not show up for the flight -return or otherwise, you will be treated as a “No Show” and you will forfeit the fare for your return ticket. You will not get a refund, irrespective of the ticket type - Refundable or otherwise. What happens if you don't check-in before your flight?

Planes sometimes leave early if the pilot makes the call, but generally, flights that depart ahead of schedule are just a few minutes early. This shouldn't cause a problem as passengers are expected to be at the gate 15-30 minutes before and should have boarded the plane at least 15 minutes ahead of the departure time.

Not Enough Passengers

This is more common with routes that have less frequent travelers or during off-peak times. Most airlines assess the viability of operating a nonstop flight based on the number of passengers, and a significantly low booking rate can lead to a decision to cancel flights.

One of the main differences between layovers and connecting flights is the duration of the wait. Layovers are generally shorter, ranging from a few minutes to a few hours, while connecting flights can be several hours or even overnight.

If you can't avoid connecting, don't book the shortest layover, because you'll be building in stress and the possibility of missing your flight. A 1-hour layover is not enough anymore. Thirty minutes, not a chance. In most cases, 3 hours is safe.

If your itinerary was purchased as one ticket (as in: you have only one itinerary and one confirmation number), and the connection time was too short and you miss the second (or third) flight, you can rest easy, no matter what happens. The airline will simply put you onto the next available flight, free of charge.

The airline may choose to accommodate you by booking you on another flight, but that's their discretion, and you may be on the hook for change fees or even fare differences. If you miss a connection because your first flight was delayed, you're entitled to compensation depending on what caused the delay.

Notify the Airline ASAP

Time is of the essence. If you booked two separate tickets with different airlines, don't delay informing the airline about your missed connection. They might have standby options or alternative flights to accommodate you sooner.

When your flight is canceled, significantly delayed, or a delay could cause you to miss your connection, we'll rebook you on our next flight with available seats at no additional cost.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) airlines in the U.S. are not required to compensate passengers if a flight is delayed or canceled, it only requires compensation if you are moved or bumped from an overbooked flight.